I don't feel like subscribing/registering to the "Texas Monthly" to read the story, but I don't need to read it to say I agree with you. Not that I mind the Cowboys downfall, being a fan of the NY Giants.posted by msacheson at 3:35 PM on November 12, 2001

The idea that one city can claim the mantle of "America's Team"... has that ever really been valid?

Unless my home team's involved and I have a clear bias, I usually root for the underdog... another notionally American trait. But this means cheering for whoever's playing the Cowboys, Lakers, Yankees, Mets, Duke, NFL Giants, etc. If this is true, having an America's team involves the paradox of everyone rallying behind the team without the bandwagon (grin).posted by kurumi at 4:22 PM on November 12, 2001

Speaking as a Texan, I don't care how many Superbowls they won with Jimmy Johnson, when Jerry Jones treated Tom Landry like an old steer put to pasture, I cursed the day Jones was born. What a maroon. Seen his plastic surgery recently? Jones looks like Michael Jackson on a bad day.

Tom Landry is a god. And I don't even like football. He was a great man and a great coach. Jones deserves every ounce of bad karma that comes his way.posted by ZachsMind at 4:39 PM on November 12, 2001

Now his ego has made America's Team an NFL laughingstock.

I thought this was Hi-liarious because just yesterday someone was explaining to me (jokingly) How the Green Bay Packers were "America's Team," and if they lost against the Bears, than the terrorists have already won.

I think anyone North of Dallas would tend to disagree with the Cowboys being called America's team.posted by drezdn at 4:44 PM on November 12, 2001

Yeah, when Jerry Jones smiles, his arms fly up in the air...

As for the Cowboys being a laughingstock, at least they're not the Detroit Lions.

I dunno about the Packers being America's Team, but they're publicly owned so us Cheeseheads don't have to put up with egotistical owners who go off and have their ears pulled back so far that they meet in the back of their heads.posted by MrBaliHai at 4:52 PM on November 12, 2001

Site needs cookies to allow me to proceed? No thanks.posted by fleener at 5:10 PM on November 12, 2001

Tom Landry is a god. And I don't even like football. He was a great man and a great coach.

I'm a huge tom landry fan, but WAS is the key word. It was time for a change, and although dallas couldn't have handled it any worse, winning three super bowls in years soon after shows the move to have been successful.

The idea that one city can claim the mantle of "America's Team"... has that ever really been valid?

The title never came from the cowboy organization itself. It came from broadcasters and the general football media.

The cowboys have for years been the nfl's biggest draw, as welling as being near or at the top for merchandise sold. So when looked at from that view, it is quite valid.

I think anyone North of Dallas would tend to disagree with the Cowboys being called America's team.

Actually you have it backwards. It's because of fans north of dallas the cowboys are regarded as america's team. Their interest in the cowboys success or failure is the root of the phrase.

It basically falls back to the old 'you either hate them or love them' cliche. Think about being a redskin fan. Outside of washington, who cares if they win or lose? But if dallas loses, redskin fans will throw a party.

Long term success breeds jealousy. Always has, always will.posted by justgary at 5:10 PM on November 12, 2001

What ZachsMind said. When I was little, I was a Raiders fan first, but if the Raiders weren't playing, Cowboys all the way. And that was because of Coach Landry. His face had the same granite-cold look when they won Superbowls as when they lost preseason games. When he was fired, a letter from my aunt in Wichita Falls said that everyone was "sitting around looking like somebody'd just died." I can't imagine Jones is very popular in his home state these days, and I don't think he deserves to be.

The only real benefit of liking both the Raiders and Cowboys, by the way, was that it left me free to hate the Steelers -- still do...posted by Bixby23 at 5:18 PM on November 12, 2001

I think it's less the success the Cowboys have had (and they have) and more the way they've done it that breeds animosity. Especially recently with all the dopeheads (Irvin). True, like most of the rest of the real NFL, the 'Skins are a regional thing. But it's league-wide fun to hate the Cowboys. :)posted by owillis at 5:32 PM on November 12, 2001

isn't the success of a football team cyclical? the more successful you are the worse your field of draft picks until your good players get old and you have to lose a few seasons to get up to first round again? i thought that was the way it worked.posted by centrs at 5:43 PM on November 12, 2001

I'm just glad the Bengals aren't the laughing stock...just a mild snicker now.posted by Mick at 6:06 PM on November 12, 2001

As for the Cowboys being a laughingstock, at least they're not the Detroit Lions.

You stole my comment. :) If they manage to win a game this season, there won't be any reason to watch 'em anymore.

isn't the success of a football team cyclical?
Yes and no. Bringing in a bunch of free agents can be successful (Ravens/Rams) or a disaster of epic proportions (Redskins). You can only get so much from the draft as salvageable players, otherwise its free agency.posted by owillis at 6:40 PM on November 12, 2001

It's why we have Stars hockey. Gives me a real sport to watch.posted by hockeyman at 8:41 PM on November 12, 2001

isn't the success of a football team cyclical?

Yes, for a different reason. The same player on a good team will be able to command a higher salary than if he were on a bad team. The salary cap limits the amount you can pay all of your players combined, so eventually your good players either leave because some other team offers them far more than they are really worth or you have to cut them because while you'd like to pay them what they are worth, you need to pay everyone else on your team too.

Tying it all back together, the Cowboys are a prime example of this. They were able to keep more good players than most teams via creative contracts that promised a lot of money in the out years, but now they can't afford anyone good because they're still paying for a bunch of now-washed-up players. Same thing happened to the 49ers.posted by jaek at 11:09 PM on November 12, 2001

isn't the success of a football team cyclical?

Not always. The Falcons haven't had back-to-back winning seasons in 35 years. That's just a long stretch of unrelenting ugly, no cycle.

But they did manage to beat the Cowboys last Sunday.posted by PhotoDude at 11:11 PM on November 12, 2001

Site needs cookies to allow me to proceed? No thanks.

Not just cookies... you need to be a subscriber to the print magazine, in order to register for an account, in order to read the "non-free" articles online.

Ah, I suppose it was only a matter of time.posted by Fofer at 11:30 PM on November 12, 2001

I grew up in Dallas, where the Cowboys were always the most important Sunday ritual. They are terrible now, but so is most of the NFL under the salary cap.

As for the Cowboys being worthy of scorn because of all the druggies, by current NFL standards the hijinks of Michael Irvin, Erik Williams, and the others are small-time. Ray Lewis either participated in a murder or helped cover it up. Rae Carruth paid a hit man to kill his pregnant girlfriend. Snorting cocaine off a couple of hookers in a hotel room, trying to intimidate a witness before trial, and renting a house where teammates can safely stray from their marraiges is minor league.posted by rcade at 4:01 AM on November 13, 2001

Think about being a redskin fan. Outside of washington, who cares if they win or lose?

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